The Week in Reviews, Op. 167: Lisa Batiashvili; Midori; Paul Huang

February 6, 2017, 2:38 PM · In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world.

Lisa Batiashvili performed the Tchaikovsky with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Los Angeles Times: "Batiashvili, whose technique is impeccable and whose tone is richly soulful, was there for all the emotional and violinistic swings. She dreamed with Tchaikovsky and escaped with Tchaikovsky and threw it all to the wind when that seemed a thrilling thing to do."

Midori performed the Britten with the Marin Symphony Orchestra.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "Midori’s muscular playing and virtuosic agility are a sight to behold....She was especially brilliant in the cadenza at the end of the concerto’s central scherzo, and in its somber finale, written in the form of a passacaglia: a set of variations over a repeated bass motif."

Paul Huang performed the Beethoven with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra.

Santa Barbara Independent: "The concerto’s first movement included a fiery violin solo that impressed and inspired, with Huang channeling a clear serenity in the chaos of Beethoven’s grand schematics. It was a true honor to experience Huang’s talent backed by such an outstanding orchestra, a performance worth many standing ovations."

San Francisco Classical Voice: "Blumenstock was at her very best on her own, in the probing, expansive cadenzas. She was patient, full of candor, and often dramatically deployed rubato, without milking anything for unearned effects."